Catch



Feb. 5, 1924, r

I W. WALKER ET AL CATCH Filed NOV. 23, 1922 INVENTORSI wmmw'wwu wATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

PAEN Ffltt.

WILLIAIM WALKER AND HENRY H. WEBER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNGRS TOROSENBAND IVIFG'. 00., O1 NEWARK,

JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW CATCH.

Application filed. November 23, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, i VILLIAM WALKE and HENRY H. WEBER, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCatches; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of referencemarked there on, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in catches of thetype known as hasps; and, the present invention has reference, moreparticularly, to a novel and simply constructed looking or holding catchw iich is especially adapted for use with suit cases, portfolios, musicrolls, pocket-books, bags, trunks, and the like.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal object toprovide a novel and simply constructed, as Well as an effectivelyoperating catch of the general character hereinafter set forth, in whichthe several parts have been reduced to a minimum, and in which thevarious parts have been assembled in their operative relation, withoutthe use of solder, rivets, screws, or similar fastening devices.

The present invention has for a further object, novel arrangement andconstruction of a spring, within the main shell of the catch, foroperative engagement with a hasp-plate or element, for pivotally andoperatively securing said plate or element to said main shell, and atthe same time rendering said hasp-plate spring-actuated andspring-controlled.

Other objects of the present invention not at this time moreparticularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the followingdetailed description of the present invention.

With the various objects of the present invention in view, the saidinvention consists, primarily, in the novel looking or holding catchhereinafter more fully set forth; and, the said invention consists,furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the variousdevices and parts, all of which will be more fully described in the thefollowing specification,

Serial No. 602,743.

and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims, which areappended to and which form an essential part of the said specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a front face View of a portfolio or brief case,provided with a pair of looking or holding catches showing oneembodiment of the principles of the present invention, and the separablemembers of the portfolio, or other suitable receptacle, as a bag,suit-case, trunk, or the like.

Figure 2 is a rear View, on an enlarged scale,- of the catch, showingthe various members of the same in their locked relation; Figure 3 is alongitudinal vertical section of the same, said section being taken online 3-3 in said Figure 2; and Figure l is a horizontal sectionalrepresentation of the catch, said section being taken on line 44 in saidFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the main shell of the catch, showingin connection therewith, the arrangement and manner of securing Withinsaid shell, a novel form of spring employed for actuating andcontrolling a hasp-engaging and locking element of the catch. Figure 6is a perspective view of the hasp-engaging and locking element: Figure 7is a side elevation of the said main shell and the hasp-engaging andlocking plate connected therewith; and Figure 8 is a perspective View ofthe hereinabove mentioned sprin Similar characters are employed in allof the said above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, thereference-character l indicates, in general, a catch made according toand embodying the principles of the present invention, the samecomprising a main chambered shell, adapted to be attached to the member3 of the bag-body 2, and another chambered shell, which provides the'haspengaging member and which is adapted to be attached to the saidbag-body, substantially as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The said main chambered shell, as will be seen from an inspection ofFigures 2, 3,

4;, 5 and 7 consists, essentially of a top-plate 4L, bounded along itslongitudinally extending marginal edge-portions with rearward- 1yextending wall-flanges, as 5 and 6, with which are connected and extendlaterally and outwardly the respective side-fianges 7 and 8, the saidside-flanges being, respectively, provided with other rearwardlyprojecting flanges, as 9 and 10, forming the main side-walls of the saidmain shell, as will be clearly evident. At one end, the said main shellis formed with an end-wall 11, extending rearwardly from theend-portions of the various members 1, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, and 9 and 10,the said end-wall 11 being provided with a suitably formed retainingmeans, preferably in the form of an inwardly projecting lug, as 12, forthe purpose .to be presently more fully described. At its opposite end,the said main shell is left open, as shown more particularly in Figure 5or the drawings, the marginal end-portion 13 of the top-plate 4; beingformed with an end-lug or projection 14 adapted to enter the otherchambered shell, which forms the hasp-plate engaging member,substantially as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The rearwardly extending wall-flanges 5 and 6, as well as the laterallyextending side-flanges 7 and 8, and the main side-walls 9 and 10 ofthesaid main chambered shell are provided w'th oppositely placedreceiving slots or openings, as 15 and 16. At suitable points betweenthe said slots or penings 15 and 16, and the open end-portion of thesaid main chambered shell, the previously mentioned wall-flanges 5 and6, are perforated, as at 17, the pressed-out portions of the metalproviding within said main chambered shell, inwardly projecting tubularelements 18 and 19 which provide suitable receiving members or bearings,as will be evident. The reference-character 20 indicates a suitablyformed spring-member, comprising a pair of arms 21 and 22 connested atone end by the bowed connecting portion 23, which is disposed beneaththe previously mentioned end-lug or projection 12, said arms 21 and 22being provided at the free ends with oppositely projecting end-members 21 and 25, extending laterally from said arms into the respective tubularreceiving members or bearings 18 and 19, as clearly shown in said Figure2 of the drawings. As shown in the several figures of the drawings, thearms 21 and 22 of the spring, are preferably of rectangularcrosssection, so that each arm will present a flat bearing-surface, asindicated in Figure 1, but such flat surface-portions are not essential,and for that reason the arms of the spring may be of a circular, orother suitable cross-section.

The reference-character 26 indicates a hasp-plate, and the same ismade-in the form of an open frame comprising a pair of side bars 27 and28, and connecting end-bars 29 and 30, the end-bar 29 being suitablyprovided with a fingerpiece 31, and the end-bar 30 being provided with acam-member or aw, as 32, adapted to be brought into active engagementwith the spring-arms 21 and 22, for maintaining the said hasp-plate inits looking or raised relation with the various members of the catch, aswill be evident.

W hen the said hasp-plate is in its active position with relation to themain chambered member of the catch, the end-bar 30 is journalled in thereceiving slots or openings 15 and 16, with the main portion of said bar30 extending laterally across the interior of said main chambered member01'? the catch, directly beneath the top-plate 1, with the cam-member orjaw 32 bearing firmly upon and being in movable frictional contact withthe spring-arms 21 and 22, whereby the said hasp-plate 26 is securelymaintained in its assembled and operative relation with the mainchambered shell of the catch, as will be clearly evident from aninspection of the several figures of the drawings.

The said main chambered shell of the catch may be suitably secured tothe flap 3 of the bag-body 2, or other part of any other receptacle, bymeans of marginal fastening lugs or tongues, as 33, which are arrangedpreferably as shown in the several figures 01 the drawings, so as toreinforce and give strength to the attached main shell, and preventbuckling of the same across its topplate at the points where thereceiving slots or openings 15 and 16 are located. It will beunderstood, however, that in lieu of the fastening lugs or tongues 33,other suitable attaching or securing means may be employed.

The previously mentioned hasp-plate engaging member consists,essentially of a top plate 311-, bounded along its longitudinallyextending marginal edge-portions with rearwardly extending wall-flanges35 and 36, with which are connected and extend laterally and outwardly,the respective sideflanges 37 and 38, the said side-flanges being,respectively, provided with other rearwardly projecting flanges, as 39and 40, forming the main side-walls of the said hasp-plate engagingmember. At its one end the said hasp-plate engaging member is formedwith an end-wall 41 connected with and extending rearwardly -from theend-portions of the respective members 34:, 35 and 36, 37 and 38, and 39and 10. At its opposite end, the said hasp-plate engaging member is leftopen, for the reception of the end-lug or projection 1-1 of the mainchambered shell, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and the purpose of whichwill be clearly understood from an inspection of said last-mentionedfigures of the drawings.

In order to secure the said hasp-plate engaging member to the bag-body2, or other part of any other receptacle, the said member is providedwith marginal fastening lugs or tongues, as 42, which are arranged,preferably, as shown. It will be understood, however, that othersuitable fastening means may be employed in lieu of said lugs or tongues42 for fastening or securing the said hasp-plate engaging member in itsoperative position upon the bag-body 2, or the like.

As shown in the several figures of .the drawings, when the two mainchambered members of a catch have been properly secured in theiroperative positions to the re spective members of the bag, or the like,when the hasp-plate is swung into its lowered position, so as to embracethe raised portions of the hasp-plate engaging member, as shown inFigures 1, 8 and 4: of the drawings, then the separable parts of thecatch will be maintained in their locked relation, the action of thepreviously mentioned spring against the cam-member or jaw 32 of thehasp-plate being such that the said hasp-plate and the hasp-plateengaging member will be held in their positively locked relation, butwhen the hasp-plate is raised or lifted from its engagement with thesaid hasp-plate engaging member, then the action of the spring againstthe cammember or jaw 32 is such, so that the said hasp-plate will remainin its raised disenaged position indicated in Figure 7, or in the dottedposition indicated in Figure 3, so that the two main chambered membersof the catch can be brought into their separated relation, as will beclearly evident.

The action and operations of the assembled parts hereinbefore describedwill readily be understood from an inspection of the several figures ofthe drawings, and any further description of the same is thereforedeemed unnecessary.

We are aware, of course, that some changes may be made in the generalarrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as wellas in the details of the construction of the said parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention as set forth in theforegoing specification. Hence, we do not limit our present invention tothe exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and partsas described in the said specification, nor do we confine ourselves tothe exact details of the construction of the said parts, as illustratedin the accompanying drawin s.

We claim 1. A catch comprising a main chambered member, provided withlongitudinally extending wall-flanges, a U-shaped spring within saidmember having its free end-portions respectively secured to saidlongitudinally extending wall-flanges, means within said chamberedmember with which the bowed portion of said spring is in retainedengagement, a hasp-plate pivotally connected with said main chamberedmember, a cam-member connected with said hasp-plate in movableengagement with said spring within said main chambered member, and ahasp-plate engaging member provided with means with which the saidspring-actuated hasp-plate is adapted to be brought into lockedengagement.

2. A catch comprising a main chambered member, provided withlongitudinally extending wall-flanges, tubular elements ex tendinginwardly from said wall-flanges, a spring within said main chamberedmember, said spring comprising a pair of side-arms, a connectingbow-portion, and oppositely projecting members at the free ends of saidside-arms, said projecting members extending in supporting relation intosaid tubular elements, means within said chambered member with which thebowed portion of said spring is in retained engagement, a hasp-platepivotally connected with said main chambered member, a cam-memberconnected'with said hasp-plate in movable engagement with said springwithin said main chambered member, and a hasp-plate engaging memberprovided with means with which said spring-actuated hasp-plate. isadapted to be brought into locked engage ment.

3. A catch comprising a main chambered lar elements, a supporting lugextending in" wardly from an end-wall of said chambered member withwhich the bowed portion of said spring is in retained engagement, ahasp-plate pivotally 'cnnnected with said main chambered member, acam-member connected with said hasp-plate in movable engagement with theside-arms of said spring within said main chambered member, and ah-asp-plate engaging member provided with means with which saidspringactuated hasp-plate is adapted to be brought into lockedengagement.

4. A catch comprising a main chambered member consisting of a top-plate,longitudinally extending wall-flanges projecting rearwardly from saidtop-plate, each wall-flange being provided with a laterally andoutwardly extending flange, and each laterally and outwardly extendingflange being formed with a rearwardly extending flange,

within said chambered member with which the bowed portion of said springis in retained engagement, a hasp-plate having a laterally extendingcam-member oscillatorily disposed in said receiving s s and in movableengagement with said spi ing within said main chambered member, and"Asp-plate engaging member provided with means with which the saidspring-actuated hasp-plate is adapted to be brought into lockedengagement.

5. A catch comprising a main chambered member consisting of a top-platelongitudinally extending wall-flanges projecting rearwardly from saidtop-plate, each wall-tlange being provided with a laterally andoutwardly extending fiange,and each laterally and outwardly extendingflange being formed with a rearwardly extending flange, said latterflanges forming the main sidewalls of said chambered member, saidwall-fian es and the said laterally and outwardly ex ent.- ing flangesand said side-walls being further formed with receiving slots, tnl a arre ceiving elements extending inwardly from said wall-flanges, a springwithin said main chambered member, said spring comprising a pair ofside-arms, a connecting bow-portion, and oppositely projecting membersat the free ends of said side-arms, said projecting members extending insupporting re lation into said tubular elements, means within saidchambered member with which the bowed portion of said spring is inretained engagement, a hasppl'ate having a laterally extendingcam-member oscillatorily disposed in said receiving slots and in movableengagement wi-th the spring vithin said adapted to be brought intolocked engagement.

6. A catch comprising a main chambered member consisting oi a toppiate,longitndi nally extending wall flanges projecting rearwardly "from saidtop-plate, each wall-flange being provided with a laterally andoutwardly extending flange, and each laterally and outwardiy extendingflange being formed with a rearwardly extending flange, said latterflanges formingthe main sidewalls of said chambered member, saidwallflanges and the said laterally and outwardly extending flanges andsaid side-walls being further formed with receiving slots, tubularreceiving elements extending inward .y from said wall-flanges, a springwithin said main chambered member, said spring comprising a pair ofside-arms, a connecting bow-portion, and oppositely projecting membersatthe free ends of said side-arms said projecting members extending insupporting relation into said tubular elements, a supporting lugextending inwardly from an end-wall of said chambered member with whichthe bowed portion of said spring is in retained engagement, a hasp-platehaving a laterally extending cam-member oscillatorily disposed in saidreceiving slots and in movable engagement with the side-arms of saidspring within said main chambered n ember, and a hasp-plate engagingmember provided with means with which said spring-actuated hasp-plate isadapted to be brought into locked engagement.

In testimony, that we claim the invention set. forth above we havehereunto set our hands this 20th day of November 1922.

WILLIAM WALKER. HENRY H. WEBER.

Witness FREDK C. FBAENTZEL.

